"He played little part in national affairs but took a prominent role in the government and political life of his native county and was known as a careful administrator and a 'just and painstaking magistrate' [...] A supporter of Edmund Freake, bishop of Norwich (1575–84), Paston was involved in the bitter conflict between the bishop and the puritans for control of the chancellorship of the diocese in 1578. He was described by Bishop Scrambler as an 'observer of law' which has been taken to mean that his religious views were either conformist Church of England or impartial (Smith, 214). In 1597 he moved to the new house which his uncle, Sir Clement Paston, had built at Oxnead. Known for his liberality, hospitality and benefactions, Paston is chiefly remembered for the founding and endowment of North Walsham grammar school (the Paston School), in 1606." [Oxford DNB, citation details below.]

As he lived through her entire reign, presumably he was aware that queen Elizabeth was his third cousin, both of them being great-great grandchildren of London mayor Geoffrey Boleyn and his wife Anne Hoo.